Freelancers to get bank loan, credit cards: BB
Foreign exchange earnings will increase and it will create entrepreneurship and increase employment
Representational Photo
The central bank has directed the scheduled banks to provide bank loan and credit card facilities to the IT freelancers on ICT Department's list who are being given virtual ID cards.
The central bank's Banking Policy and Regulation Department (BRPD) issued a circular in this regard on Sunday.
It said the government is providing the freelancers with virtual ID cards as part of giving recognition to them.
Freelancers with such ID cards need to be provided with a bank loan facility and credit card which will give an opportunity to develop this potential sector, said the circular.
As a result, foreign exchange earnings will increase and it will create entrepreneurship and increase employment – all these will play an important role in the national economy.
Founder and CEO of Creative IT Institute Md Monir Hosen welcomed the initiative of the Bangladesh Bank (BB).
He told The Business Standard, "The loan facility would help a freelancer become an entrepreneur."
On the other hand, in the case of issuing virtual ID cards, he suggested that real freelancers should be enrolled.
The IT entrepreneur also demanded that PayPal or any other international money transfer gateway be launched soon to ensure easy access to remittance.
Expressing the same view, IT expert Sarwar Hossain Sumon said first it should be ensured that freelancers can bring in their remittance to the country easily.
"It is more important than a bank loan," he said, adding that although PayPal was inaugurated a few years back, it is yet to function.
Sarwar also called for steps to issue ID cards for real
freelancers.
On November 25, the ICT Department started the process of issuing virtual ID cards for freelancers.
According to the department, at present six and a half lakh freelancers in the country earn $1.5 million dollar annually.
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